Lately, gas heaters have become popular because of their cost-effectiveness and their ability to heat large spaces. This is particularly important if you live in a large home.
The Importance of a Gas Heater
A gas heater is an essential appliance if you live in an area that experiences cold conditions. That said, your local climate and the size of space you want to heat affect the heater size you need.
Types of Gas Heaters
The two most common types of gas heaters are flued and portable heaters.
Flued Heaters
A flued gas heater is one which has a pipe taking exhaust fumes from your room to outside. For this reason, they are usually significant.
Pros
- Safety – the exhaust pipe ensures that unburned gases do not harm you.
- Efficiency – flued heaters produce a lot of heat without consuming large amounts of gas.
- Low running costs – it is not expensive to maintain gas heaters as it is with wood or electric fireplaces.
Cons
- Poor portability – because of the pipe, flued heaters are difficult to move.
- Installation costs – the size of the flued heater makes them expensive to install.
Portable Heaters
Portable heaters, on the other hand, tend to be small since they do not have an exhaust pipe. This is why they are ideal for warming up small homes.
Pros
- Easy to move – as the name suggests, portable heaters are not fixed in one position.
- Efficiency – most of the gas in the heater gets transformed into heat.
- Affordability – these heaters have lower running costs than electric fireplaces.
- Eco-friendliness – gas heaters have a smaller carbon footprint than electric heaters, especially if they are not from renewable sources.
Cons
- Pollution – the lack of a pipe means that the unburned gases leak into your room. They also produce carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide, although at low levels.
- Molding – the water vapor from the combustion of gases can condense on various surfaces and cause molding.
Installation
It is worth noting that installation is not inclusive of the cost of purchasing a gas heater. Unless you are an expert, it is advisable to hire a professional to oversee this process. This is because gas is risky and can be potentially hazardous if not handled properly.
Regardless of the type of heater you buy, it is important to have a carbon monoxide detector. They are readily available in stores and can save you from the effects of this harmful chemical.
Cost of Gas Heaters
The cost of heaters largely depends on size – the bigger it is, the higher the price. This explains why flued heaters are generally costlier than portable heaters.
Conclusion
Purchasing a gas heater is a necessity if you live in areas that experience low temperatures during winter. However, it can be difficult to choose between portable and flued heaters.
If faced with this dilemma, remember that portable heaters are ideal for small rooms while flued heaters suit big spaces. The latter is also safer since it has an exhaust pipe.
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